Courtesy photo
From left, Library Director Beth Sweet, receives a check from Bradford C. Paige, Kennebunk Savings President and CEO, and Dale Barrows, Vice President and Manager of the North Berwick branch, accompanied by Library Board President David Dutch and members of the Board of Trustees, Meleta Baker and Ginny Reusch, who met as the library addition construction got under way.

KENNEBUNK, Maine – Kennebunk Savings recently provided a grant to North Berwick’s D.A. Hurd Library to fund its current building project, its first significant renovation in eighty years. After many years of fine-tuning the plans with staff, Board and community members, the library began construction in the fall on what will be a 1,500 square foot addition and updates to its electrical, plumbing and air circulation systems.

To help make the renovation become a reality, Kennebunk Savings pledged $25,000 toward the project. Bradford C. Paige, Kennebunk Savings President and CEO, and Dale Barrows, Vice President and Manager of the North Berwick branch presented the check to Library Director Beth Sweet and Library Board President David Dutch along with members of the Board of Trustees, Meleta Baker and Ginny Reusch.

According to Paige, “Kennebunk Savings is pleased to have served the North Berwick community since 1971 and recognizes the importance of the Library within the community. We are proud to be able to provide support to our customers, friends and neighbors in North Berwick.”

With more than 2,700 library cardholders and over 20,000 visitors per year, the Library has been in need of the expansion for some time. The Kennebunk Savings grant brings the Library closer to its $600,000 goal for the project that will increase the building’s comfort, efficiency and provide for technology infrastructure upgrades.

Project fundraising has been an ongoing challenge for the Library, which was reluctant to take on additional debt or look for project financing through a bond initiative. After receiving donations from corporate entities and investments by private foundations, the library is now asking for private donations as they near the end of their fundraising initiative and finalize the project. According to Beth Sweet, with the anticipation of additional private donations, the library hopes to be able to complete the renovations by January 2013. “We’re excited to showcase the changes we’ve made and show how this renovation will allow us to meet the changing needs of a growing population for years to come.”

Each year Kennebunk Savings donates 10% of its earnings back to the nonprofit community resulting in over $8,000,000 since 1994.